https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2603%3A800C%3A1200%3A596A%3ADACA%3AC22E%3AEA73%3AA173explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-05-22T18:44:09ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3223:_Inflation_Timeline&diff=4087573223: Inflation Timeline2026-03-23T23:54:05Z<p>2603:800C:1200:596A:DACA:C22E:EA73:A173: /* Explanation */ is same paragraph</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3223<br />
| date = March 23, 2026<br />
| title = Inflation Timeline<br />
| image = inflation_timeline_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 423x213px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Depending what corners of the internet you hang out on, 'regular' may at times awkwardly coexist with 'sexy.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by an INFLATIONARY BOT. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{w|Cosmic inflation}} is the theory that the very early universe expanded at an exponential rate. This explains the "clumpiness" of the early universe, which is necessary to explain the formation of large-scale structures (e.g., galaxies, {{w|galaxy clusters}}, {{w|galaxy filaments}}, etc.) as the universe evolved. "Regular" {{w|inflation}} refers to the economic process in which the average price of goods and services increases over time. This is usually gradual, but can be very rapid during times of economic distress.<br />
<br />
The comic puts both of these on the same timeline of the universe. Cosmic inflation occurs shortly (~10<sup>-35</sup> s) after the {{w|Big Bang}}. Regular inflation occurs only during the time of human society after money started being used. Because of the logarithmic scale of the graph, the cosmic inflation period, which is only a tiny fraction of a second, looks much larger than regular inflation, which has existed for at most a few thousand years.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to a third meaning, that of {{w|body inflation}} as a sexual fetish or kink, with no relationship to cosmology or economics.{{cn}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Caption:] Timeline of Inflation<br />
:[A log scale timeline marked by "Age of the Universe (Seconds)" at each factor of 10<sup>10</sup>, ranging from 10<sup>-40</sup> to 10<sup>20</sup>. A bar labeled "Cosmic" begins off-panel to the left and continues up to roughly 10<sup>-32</sup> seconds. A second, much thinner bar labeled "Regular" covers another period between roughly 10<sup>16</sup> and 10<sup>18</sup> seconds.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Timelines]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmology]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]</div>2603:800C:1200:596A:DACA:C22E:EA73:A173https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3223:_Inflation_Timeline&diff=4087563223: Inflation Timeline2026-03-23T23:52:46Z<p>2603:800C:1200:596A:DACA:C22E:EA73:A173: /* Explanation */ title text</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3223<br />
| date = March 23, 2026<br />
| title = Inflation Timeline<br />
| image = inflation_timeline_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 423x213px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Depending what corners of the internet you hang out on, 'regular' may at times awkwardly coexist with 'sexy.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by an INFLATIONARY BOT. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{w|Cosmic inflation}} is the theory that the very early universe expanded at an exponential rate. This explains the "clumpiness" of the early universe, which is necessary to explain the formation of large-scale structures (e.g., galaxies, {{w|galaxy clusters}}, {{w|galaxy filaments}}, etc.) as the universe evolved.<br />
<br />
"Regular" {{w|inflation}} refers to the economic process in which the average price of goods and services increases over time. This is usually gradual, but can be very rapid during times of economic distress.<br />
<br />
The comic puts both of these on the same timeline of the universe. Cosmic inflation occurs shortly (~10<sup>-35</sup> s) after the {{w|Big Bang}}. Regular inflation occurs only during the time of human society after money started being used. Because of the logarithmic scale of the graph, the cosmic inflation period, which is only a tiny fraction of a second, looks much larger than regular inflation, which has existed for at most a few thousand years.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to a third meaning, that of {{w|body inflation}} as a sexual fetish or kink, with no relationship to cosmology or economics.{{cn}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Caption:] Timeline of Inflation<br />
:[A log scale timeline marked by "Age of the Universe (Seconds)" at each factor of 10<sup>10</sup>, ranging from 10<sup>-40</sup> to 10<sup>20</sup>. A bar labeled "Cosmic" begins off-panel to the left and continues up to roughly 10<sup>-32</sup> seconds. A second, much thinner bar labeled "Regular" covers another period between roughly 10<sup>16</sup> and 10<sup>18</sup> seconds.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Timelines]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmology]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]</div>2603:800C:1200:596A:DACA:C22E:EA73:A173